What Makes an Empowered Woman: Goals, Self-Confidence, and Purpose

31 March 2021

Empowered Woman Goals Self Confidence and Purpose Lumina Homes House and Lot for Sale Philippines

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Written by: Cielo Fernando

In this day and age, being an empowered woman is one of the most game-changing and important things that can happen in our society. If you look at it closely, women play a huge role in society more than you think they are because women are the bearers of the culture and the future generations.

While there are many indications and definitions of an empowered woman, one thing's for sure; empowered women know when to start and when to stop.

Lumina Homes asked three female bloggers to share their views about women empowerment and what it actually means for them. Check out what had to say:

Vance M. Ramos of Purple Plum Fairy

Vance Ramos Blogger House and Lot for sale lumina homes

"An empowered woman is someone who knows her worth."

While working full-time in a 5-star hotel in Manila, Vance M. Ramos is also a freelance writer and part-time events coordinator. She is also a lifestyle blogger for ten years and counting now. Her blog, Purple Plum Fairy was Nuffnang's Nutroplex Top of the Class Best Blog Story winner in 2010, Grand Winner of Contractubex Blog Contest in 2013, and Grand Champion for Digital Category in Sunlife's Sinag Awards for Financial Literacy in 2018.

Why did you choose your career?

As a child, I guess I had shown an early inclination towards writing. I was the type of student who enjoyed stringing words and writing essays in college. I was introduced to concepts such as creative nonfiction and technical writing. I enjoyed these and immediately recognized both my passion and proclivity for communicating through written words. I decided to pursue a career in this field because I enjoy writing and utilizing my communication skills. I want to be able to touch as many lives as I can through my published written articles or shared blog entries.

How do you keep yourself inspired?

I try to develop and practice the art of gratitude. The moment we open our eyes, we're often overwhelmed with the things we need to do for the day. It's normal to get to the point of experiencing what they call a "writer's block"—when you can't even think of ideas to write. But to stay motivated and inspired, you need to shift your focus right away, just acknowledging what is good puts you in a better mind frame to tackle whatever task that's coming your way. My family also keeps me inspired and motivated. As long as I have them, I know I'm surrounded with love, so I'm going to be alright.

What do you think is the biggest issue today facing women your age?

I guess the biggest issue for women my age these days is the failure to plan properly for the future. It has left many older women in greatly reduced financial circumstances, and some unlucky ones have even become homeless or forced to move in with relatives or, in the worst-case scenario—even a homeless shelter. Women, in general, have greater concerns about their retirement security, yet they do less than needed to plan and take action addressing those concerns. I firmly believe we should include health care costs, long-term care costs, and other sources of income to support ourselves until the end of our lives. Taking action is as simple as sitting down and going through a checkbook or online bank statements from the previous year to see what you spent and in what categories. How much did you pay for rent or mortgage? How much did you save or put into a retirement plan? It is equally important that each of us do what we can to prepare to enjoy each day without fear of tomorrow. That's on top of other women issues such as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), dealing with hormonal imbalance or myoma, among other women health issues, and of course, our ticking biological clock, for those like me who have yet to have a child.

How important is it for women to lift each other, and what does that mean to you?

Women's roles have expanded, we're no longer just the opposite of being a man. Women are constantly exposed to negativity as we're often held to unrealistic standards of beauty displayed in magazines, on TV, and even on social media. Like with the way we celebrate self-expression. We lift women up by taking a stance against negative comments. Combat negativity by promoting body positivity, self-love, self-worth, self-care, intelligence, authenticity. Don't be afraid to shut down negativity directly and honestly. Appreciate and celebrate being a woman. It is important to encourage women to empower themselves, make them feel special and strong. To not be afraid to speak their minds out and make sure they know the value of their opinions, and never be scared to use their voice.

Advice you'd give to a woman thinking of starting a blog

You have to find out your niche. It doesn't really have to be a niche, but it has to be something that you're really passionate about, something that you're really into. There are lots of blogs out there, meaning there is a lot of competition. Once your blog has gained some traction, you can branch out and cover broader topics. Write about topics that people are searching for. Create content that will be worth reading. Write as often as possible. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular. Just focus on building a habit of putting an entry each time. Lastly, I think you should always have a heart in everything that you do. Some bloggers have become too self-entitled once they reached the peak of their popularity. There's a lot of aspiring bloggers or influencers who have beauty, ability, and knowledge, but only a few have the heart, humility, and real passion for it. So my advice is to be one of those FEW.

What is an empowered woman to you?

An empowered woman knows her worth, someone who celebrates different types of beauty and strength—and encourages others to make their aspirations a reality. Empowering women starts with you. Show your support for the women around you by showing them that they matter and reminding them of their strength.

Clarice Lao of My Metro Lifestyle

Clarice Lao Blogger House and Lot for sale lumina homes

"When you know your big WHY, it is easier to stay focused and motivated to reach one's dreams and goals."

The blog My Metro Lifestyle is all about the typical day of a husband and wife team who are both freelance online workers based in Bacolod City. With their knowledge and interests online, Val and Clarice built several online communities that allow them to help people answer the day-to-day challenges and inspire individuals to pursue freelancing to have more time for their families or pursue their passion.

Why did you choose your current career?

I choose to be a Virtual Assistant because I believe going digital is the way to go. As a VA, I am able to support local businesses and entrepreneurs as they shift to the digital world. I want to make my clients, especially those who are not really tech-savvy, to focus on more important and high-value tasks while I take care of the rest.

How do you keep yourself inspired?

I keep myself inspired by knowing my purpose. When you know your big WHY, it is easier to stay focused and motivated to reach one's dreams and goals.

What do you think is the biggest issue today facing women of your age?

I think the biggest issue of women of my age is the lack of courage to take the leap. I remember when I started freelancing seven years ago, it was not a popular choice, and I barely have someone in my circle who understands what I do. Everyone was busy climbing the corporate ladder, and me, on the other hand, a freelancer who seems not to have any job security.

Fast forward today, I am beyond grateful that I took the leap and the "unpopular choice." I think our experience during this pandemic can speak for itself.

How important is it for women to lift each other, and what does that mean to you?

In the freelancing world, collaboration is one of the crucial keys to success. We never considered another freelancer as a competitor. Instead, we collaborate on projects depending on our different expertise, and we build teams. This is the same case for women to lift each other up. Let us choose collaboration instead of competition.

Advice you'd give to a woman thinking of starting a blog.

Writing a blog can open a lot of opportunities for you. It actually doesn't stop by being a blogger or influencer. Instead, you can actually build a freelancing career out of it. Your blog can serve as a portfolio for your future clients. So, if you want to start an online or freelancing career, then creating a blog is a good way to get started.

What is an empowered woman to you?

An empowered woman knows her purpose and believes that she can fulfill that purpose.

Also Read: #BreakTheBias: How to Celebrate International Women's Day

Prelel Yu of Foodie Mumshie

Prelel Yu Blogger House and Lot for sale lumina homes

"The last thing we would want to happen is women bringing other women down through shaming."

In 2012, Prelel Yu started as a style blogger where she showed the online world the fashionista in her, which surely caught many people's attention. As time went by, she discovered her love for food that made her venture into food blogging and created Foodie Mumshie, this blog is about a mommy and daughter's food adventures.

Why did you choose your current career?

I've always been fond of photography and writing, which is why I started my blog, and doing so has given me numerous opportunities.

How do you keep yourself inspired?

It's all about balance, and I make sure to set aside time for myself in order to keep myself from being burned out. I've always enjoyed reading, and I find that it also helps in improving my writing skills.

What do you think is the biggest issue today facing women of your age?

I find that women at my age are given expectations that shouldn't be there in the first place. At this age, some women are told that they should be married or have kids already. Honestly, I find a person's happiness to be more important and that happiness should not be defined by their marital status or their fertility.

How important is it for women to lift each other, and what does that mean to you?

The last thing we would want to happen is women bringing other women down through shaming. There's a thing called mom-shaming, and sometimes, other moms are not even aware that they are already mom-shaming a fellow mom. For me, it's important to lift each other up and to encourage other moms that they are doing a great job being a mom.

Advice you'd give to a woman thinking of starting a blog.

Back when I was a style blogger, I used to be asked a lot about how many sponsors I had or how to get sponsors. My advice for anyone who wants to start a blog of any kind is to do it for the passion. Don't start a blog thinking of the freebies, just work on your blog and do what you love.

What is an empowered woman to you?

An empowered woman is someone who has the freedom to choose.

Find affordable house and lot in Lumina Homes.

An empowered woman is many things—someone who is self-confident, who knows her purpose, knows her strengths and weaknesses, and isn't afraid to embrace them. Surely, no one word can describe an empowered woman as a whole.

But one of the best traits of an empowered woman that really stands out is that she has goals, and she'll do everything to achieve them. Just like the dream of having her own house one day. May it be for her future family or for herself, the thought of the dream home never fades.

To help empower women achieve their "Bahay Goals," Lumina Homes offers low cost housing for sale across the Philippines. Lumina Homes is the affordable housing arm of Vista Land, the Philippines' largest homebuilder.

It offers an affordable yet exclusive subdivision lifestyle featuring 24/7 guarded entrance, roving security, and shuttle service. You can also enjoy cool amenities like a play area, gazebo, mini gardens, and more.

Curious enough what Lumina Homes has to offer? Read on for more details:

If you are looking for an affordable house and lot near the Metro, check these house and lot for sale in Bulacan:

We also have house and lot for sale in Rizal by Lumina Homes, such as:

You also have the option to have an affordable condominium in Cavite or an affordable house and lot in Tanza, Cavite through Lumina Tanza.

And if you are looking for an affordable house and lot in North Luzon, you may check the Lumina properties in Zambales, Lumina Subic; house and lot for sale in Tarlac, Lumina Tarlac; house and lot for sale in Pangasinan, Lumina Manaoag; house and lot for sale in Nueva Ecija, Lumina San Jose, and Lumina Cabanatuan; house and lot for sale in Isabela, Lumina Cauayan; house and lot for sale in Cagayan, Lumina Tuguegarao; house and lot for sale in La Union, Lumina San Juan; house and lot for sale in Bataan, Lumina Pilar, and The Balanga Residences.

Lumina Homes also have house and lot for sale in other parts of the Philippines. See below for the list:

No matter which direction you go, you prefer, Lumina has enough choices. We have listed the following options you have for Lumina Homes if you want to go South:

affordable house and lot in Laguna is Lumina Calauan
affordable house and lot for in Batangas are Lumina Rosario, Lumina Bauan, Lumina Tanauan, and Lumina Lipa
affordable house and lot for in Quezon are Lumina Sariaya, and Lumina Quezon
affordable house and lot in Camarines Norte is Lumina Camarines Norte
affordable house and lot in Albay is Lumina Legazpi
affordable house and lot in Sorsogon, Lumina Sorsogon